Culver City

Environmental quality and economic health are mutually dependent as a healthy environment is crucial for the long-term prosperity of the city, its residents, and its business community. Awareness, responsibility, involvement and education will be key elements to designing a sustainable plan for Culver City.

“Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (World Commission on Environment & Development, 1987). A Culver City Sustainable Community Plan will encompass the concept of sustainability that will guide City policy and underline the long-term impact of policy choices.

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Contact Information

Certification Status

Certification is awarded when cities complete at least one (Silver), two (Gold) or all three (Platinum) activities in their Action Plan in each of the 10 challenge areas and upon peer review by other participating cities. Culver City’s self-reported progress in each challenge area is shown below.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY & CONSERVATION

WATER & WASTEWATER SYSTEMS

GREEN BUILDING

WASTE REDUCTION & RECYCLING

CLIMATE-FRIENDLY PURCHASING

RENEWABLE ENERGY & LOW-CARBON FUELS

EFFICIENT TRANSPORTATION

LAND USE & COMMUNITY DESIGN

URBAN FORESTRY & CARBON OFFSETS

PROMOTING COMMUNITY & INDIVIDUAL ACTION

Action Plan

Energy Efficiency & Conservation

Silver

Energy Efficient Sewer Pumps
The City will reconstruct the Braddock Lift Station and install new, energy efficient submersible pumps. The City will also identify a plan to renovate or build a new Fox Hills Pump Station that will allow two existing pump stations to be shut down, achieving substantial energy and operational savings.

Responsible Department(s): Public Works Department

December 2011

Gold

Federal Stimulus Grant
The City plans to use its stimulus funds (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant) to replace the high pressure sodium lighting and fluorescent lighting in the City Hall and Cardiff parking structures with energy efficient induction lighting. Much of this lighting is on 24-7, so switching to more efficient technology will help save a significant amount of energy. In addition to the more efficient lighting, lighting control technologies will be employed to achieve further savings.

Responsible Department (s): Public Works Department

June 2012

Platinum

Local Government Partnership
The City is seeking to participate in Southern California Edison’s Energy Partnership Program. The City anticipates that the Energy Partnership program will be critical to making it possible to achieve ambitious energy savings goals for city operations and the larger community by providing the City with access to SCE’s technical expertise as well as opportunities to leverage financial and other resources.

Responsible Department (s): Public Works Department

December 2011

Water & Wastewater Systems

Silver

Stormwater Trash Diversion Project
The City will be implementing a work plan to keep trash and debris from reaching the waterway. Plans include installation of three rain gardens, 674 catch basin screens, and 45 trash and 50 recycling receptacles in the public right of way.

Responsible Department (s): Public Works Department

December 2011

Gold

Irrigation Upgrades
The City will install an upgraded irrigation system at Culver City Park. The City will also conduct city-wide upgrades to weather-based controllers and add master valves and flow meters where not installed.

Platinum

Water Conservation and Storm Water Quality Outreach
The City will partner with West Basin, Golden State SMBRC, SurfRiders and other organizations to conduct outreach on water conservation as well as storm water issues. This outreach will include distribution of incentives like Rain Barrels, low flush toilets, smart irrigation and low flow shower attachments as well as educational workshops, brochures and resources.

Responsible Department (s): Public Works Department

June 2011 & Ongoing

Green Building

Silver

Green Building Ordinance
The City has a mandatory solar PV program and a successful Green Building Program in place. With the state releasing its Green Building Program, the City will revise its program accordingly.

Responsible Department (s): Community Development Department

December 2011 & Ongoing

Gold

Energy and Water Use Audits of Existing Buildings
Building Safety staff members have entered training to become Certified Green Professionals™, Green Point Rated Advisors and Raters, and ultimately “Green Home Retrofitting and Remodeling experts.” These designations recognize builders, remodelers and other industry professionals who incorporate green building principles into homes without driving up the cost of construction. Staff will have a solid background in green building methods, as well as the tools to reach consumers and lead the charge to provide market-driven green building solutions. Building Safety Division intends to purchase the necessary testing equipment and mobile laptop and software and begin offering comprehensive energy and water audits of existing buildings. The City will explore requiring energy and water efficiency audits at time of sale. This will provide prospective buyers with more information and encourage owners to complete upgrades prior to sale.

Responsible Department (s): Community Development Department

December 2012

Platinum

Green Zone Incentive Program
The City has begun a “green zone” incentive program for businesses in the Area Improvement Plan (AIP) areas along West Washington Blvd. The program waives permit fees for commercial businesses to promote energy efficiency upgrades and retrofits.

Responsible Department (s): Community Development Department

December 2011

Waste Reduction & Recycling

Silver

Recycling Market Development Zone (RMDZ)
The City will participate in the County’s Recycling Market Development Zone (RMDZ) program which combines recycling with economic development to fuel new businesses, expand existing ones, create jobs, and divert waste from landfills. As part of this participation, the City will outreach to businesses through the Chamber of Commerce and online marketing (i.e. web pages).

Responsible Department (s): Public Works Department

December 2011

Gold

Food Waste
The City has implemented a food waste program with Sony Pictures Entertainment, which has helped the company reach over 90 percent diversion rate. The City’s intent is to expand the food waste program to other local restaurants and/or businesses.

Responsible Department (s): Public Works Department

December 2011

Platinum

Multi-Family Recycling Grant Program
The City will implement a Multi-Family Recycling Program. This program will boost recycling participation in the Fox Hills area by providing the outreach and infrastructure necessary to service that area (including 200 additional recycling containers to meet the needs of the individual multifamily units). The City will award a contract to a consulting firm to implement the outreach, marketing, and reporting portions of the scope in October 2010.

Responsible Department (s): Public Works Department

December 2011

Climate-Friendly Purchasing

Silver

City Environmentally Preferred Purchasing Program
The City has an Administrative Policy guiding Environmental Purchasing. The City will revise and update its environmental purchasing policies and begin to consolidate purchasing, which will help ensure effective implementation. The City will also begin educating City staff on environmental purchasing through a series of training workshops.

Responsible Department (s): Finance Department

December 2011

Gold

Street Light Replacement
The City will seek to leverage $600k in funding that was recently provided by the City Council for a program to replace energy inefficient series street lights with more efficient technologies (specifically, parallel circuits using induction technology) on residential streets as well as major arterials. One way the City will leverage this funding is through, applying to fund street light upgrades through Southern California Edison’s On-Bill Financing program.

Responsible Department (s): Public Works Department

December 2011

Platinum

Online Permitting
The City will seek to increase the number of permits for Planning, Engineering, Fire, Building and Safety, etc. that can be processed online, reducing car trips to City Hall. A committee has been formed to review and research streamlining all processes to reduce the amount of paper required for city business processes.

Silver

Alternative Fuel Vehicle Purchases
The City has already made a strong commitment to alternative fuel vehicles. All City buses and over 100 city vehicles run on clean CNG and the City runs its own fueling facility. The City will continue to purchase alternative fuel vehicles. The City has already taken a leadership role in transitioning its refuse fleet to renewable fuels. Approximately 80 percent of the refuse fleet is CNG-powered, and slightly more than 20 percent is diesel-powered. The City will continue to green its refuse and recycling operations by requiring that its long-haul contractor meet strict requirements to that end.

Responsible Department (s): Transportation Department

December 2011

Gold

City Solar Program / Track and Publicize Solar PV
The City will evaluate the potential of generating solar energy at City facilities. Specifically, the City will release an RFP for solar power purchase agreements, which represent a way to pay for solar through future energy purchases. The City will also create an online map that will show the solar PV in the City and help publicize the energy it generates annually.

Responsible Department (s): Public Works Department, Information Technology Department, and Community Development Department

June 2012

Platinum

Energy Upgrade California
The City will work to implement Energy Upgrade California (formerly known as LA County Energy Program, AB 811), which is scheduled for a “soft launch” in late 2010 (all but the PACE loans). Marketing templates, materials and tool kits are being readied for distribution. The City will help distribute these items as part of its implementation of the program.

Responsible Department (s): Public Works Department

June 2011 & Ongoing

Efficient Transportation

Silver

Community Involvement Programs for Bicycles, Pedestrians, and Transit
The City will involve the community in bicycle pedestrian issues by collaborating with community groups to promote education and bike-related events. It will also work with large employers and schools to promote biking, walking, and rideshare programs.

Responsible Department (s): Public Works Department, Parks, Recreation and Community Service Department, Transportation Department and Police Department

December 2011

Gold

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)
The City will complete a new traffic control center and traffic signal synchronization program. These improvements will allow the City to better manage its traffic flow and reduce congestion and associated emissions.

Responsible Department (s): Public Works Department

December 2011

Platinum

Expo Light Rail Line
The City will collaborate with Metro to complete the Expo Light Rail project to Culver City. The completion of the Expo Light Rail Station in Culver City is a much anticipated project that will generate interest in public transportation. The City will coordinate bus transportation as well as bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure around the new station to further promote alternative means of transportation.

Responsible Department (s): Public Works Department, Transportation Department, and Community Development Department

December 2012

Land Use & Community Design

Silver

Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure
The City will begin to construct bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure as identified in the Bicycle Plan Master Plan (BPMP). The City will install signage linking the soon-to-open Expo Light Rail Station and East Culver City to downtown. The City will also install bike lanes on portions of Washington Place and Shared Lane Markings (“Sharrows”) on portions of another major arterial. The community has also identified lack of bicycle parking as an important barrier to bicycle riding. The City will create a downtown bike parking plan that identifies locations for bike parking and create standards to ensure the bicycle parking is of high quality.

Responsible Department (s): Public Works Department

December 2011

Gold

Ballona Creek Bike Path
The City will implement improvements along segments of the Ballona Creek Bike Path. These improvements, which include plantings, a new retaining wall, enhanced lighting and security, improved paths and fencing, among other things, will make the path more attractive and increase its use.

Responsible Department (s): Public Works Department

June 2011

Platinum

Climate Action Plan and Sustainability Strategy
The City will create a Climate Action Plan, which will include baseline greenhouse gas emissions data as well as identify emission reduction strategies. Also, as part of a collaborative effort, Culver City is working with the other Westside cities and SCAG to develop a region-wide Sustainable Community Strategy, which will include strategies for integrated transportation, housing, and land use planning in order to reduce green house gas emissions from passenger vehicles and small trucks. This is supposed to be incorporated in to the SCAG 2012 Regional Transportation Plan.

Responsible Department (s): Community Development Department

June 2012

Urban Forestry & Carbon Offsets

Silver

Street Tree Planting
The City will plant new trees along the street and/or medians of major arterials (Washington Blvd. and Sepulveda Blvd.) These trees, many of which have been chosen to be drought tolerant and have carbon sequestration properties, will help increase the urban forest. The trees along Washington Blvd. will also work with the City and Redevelopment Agency’s larger Area Improvement Program, which takes a comprehensive approach to creating a “green zone.”

Responsible Department (s): Public Works Department and Community Development Department

June 2012

Gold

Tree Sustainability Plan
The City will research sustainability plans of other cities and begin the process of creating a tree sustainability plan for Culver City. The plan is expected to incorporate new trimming practices, a revised tree removal ordinance, revised parkway maintenance guidelines, revisions to the Street Tree Master Plan as appropriate and a succession plan for future plantings, which will outline a systematic approach for the replacement of deteriorated trees.

Responsible Department (s): Public Works Department

June 2012

Platinum

Residential Tree Information
The City will provide a wide range of information on trees through an expanded web portal. The web portal is expected to provide a map of street trees and educate residents about the trees in their neighborhood, trimming schedules, and other important items.

Responsible Department (s): Public Works Department

June 2011

Promoting Community & Individual Action

Silver

Partner with Schools
The City offers workshops at local schools on recycling and stormwater education. It will continue to offer these workshops and provide information on local resources to encourage individual school campuses to develop sustainable programs. Also, in collaboration with the newly-formed Sustainability Subcommittee at the Culver City Unified School District, the City will partner with local schools to develop and implement a Sustainable School Program.

Responsible Department (s): Public Works Department and School District

December 2011 & Ongoing

Gold

Green Residential Program
Staff to develop and seek partners to provide Residential greening workshops and outreach to teach sustainable practices into residents everyday lifestyles, improve their quality of life, and save money while saving resources.

Responsible Department (s): Public Works Department

December 2011

Platinum

Green Certification
The City will explore the creation of a green certification program. This program will likely include the expansion of Green Seal’s hotel certification program in Culver City.

Responsible Department (s): Public Works Department

December 2012

Communities

Use the drop-down menu to view the details and action plan for each of our participating communities.